An aerial view looking south on July 19, 2018, shows the site of Lincoln Yards, a proposed mixed-use development, that would include the former Finkl Steel site.

An aerial view looking south on July 19, 2018, shows the site of Lincoln Yards, a proposed mixed-use development, that would include the former Finkl Steel site. (Chris Walker and Peter Tsai / Chicago Tribune)

The first public meeting for the Lincoln Yards real estate development was memorable for the way it started and ended, both of which demonstrated the immense interest in the proposed project.

But Ald. Brian Hopkins, whose 2nd Ward includes developer Sterling Bay’s sprawling North Side land, vowed there won’t be a repeat on either count when the next public meeting occurs in the next 30 to 60 days.

Wednesday night’s meeting began with dozens of people stuck outside Near North Montessori School, which was packed with at least 400 people. It ended when Sterling Bay, having concluded a slideshow presentation, didn’t invite questions but instead instructed the audience to move to several stations where they could ask one-on-one questions with the development team.

That led to a round of applause but also some angry shouts from the crowd.

Afterward, Hopkins told the Tribune the next meeting will take place in a larger venue and end with public comments and questions. And because the project is so complex, and will affect already densely populated areas such as Lincoln Park and Bucktown, Sterling Bay will need to provide more specific details, Hopkins said.

“We need to see a more detailed site plan,” he said. “This was a little closer to a concept than a plan.”

Some in the crowd were angered that the meeting did not end with the usual public exchange of questions and comments from citizens.

“It was very undemocratic to not permit any questions,” said Sandy Gartler, who said she has lived in Lincoln Park since 1963. “It’s the most insulting meeting I’ve ever gone to — and I’ve been to a lot of them. This process needs transparency.”

Sterling Bay isn’t the first developer to use the Q&A stations, which also have been part of meetings to discuss the Obama Presidential Center, among other projects. The approach helps prevent meetings from devolving into the kind of hours-long sessions, often dominated by a few commenters, that aldermen and developers have come to dread.

Developer Sterling Bay released new images of its Lincoln Yards development, planned for the former A. Finkl & Sons steel plant near Lincoln Park and Bucktown. The development was proposed as a site for Amazon's HQ2.

Afterward, some in the audience expressed gratitude for the opportunity for a back-and-forth exchange out of the spotlight. Others lamented that the format shielded Sterling Bay from public criticism.

“We presented a lot of information about Lincoln Yards last night, and we wanted every neighbor to have a chance to ask their specific questions and hear directly from the subject matter experts,” Sterling Bay spokeswoman Sarah Hamilton said in a Thursday email. “We received a lot of positive feedback last night and, as the alderman said, this was the first community meeting.”

At the meeting, Sterling Bay outlined its dramatic vision for 53 acres of the land it already owns, which would bring about 12 million square feet of office, residential, hotel and retail space to parcels once used by the A. Finkl & Sons steel plant and other industrial companies. The company estimates the more than $5 billion project could bring 23,000 workers and 5,000 homes to the site over a decade, along with a 20,000-seat soccer stadium and music and entertainment venues.

Plans for other land in the area owned by Sterling Bay, or to be bought in the future, will be unveiled later. All of the land is on the east and west sides of the Chicago River between North and Webster avenues.

Many aspects of Sterling Bay’s vision seemed to be well-received by the gathering of neighbors and curious onlookers, although a reference to the tallest buildings’ height — 700 to 800 feet — elicited gasps. Aside from that proposed height, currently not seen on the North Side, there are worries about the project’s impact on area schools and already heavy traffic congestion around the site.

Hopkins noted the audible reaction to Sterling Bay’s proposed building heights, but also noted that “universally desired” improvements including roads, bridges, parks, a new Metra train station and an extension of The 606 elevated trail won’t come free.

The taller the buildings, the more open space Sterling Bay can provide, Hopkins said after the meeting. And the greater the overall square footage is, the more the developer can pay toward funding infrastructure improvements, he said.

“It isn’t the height that should be the focus,” Hopkins said. “It’s the density. We need to find the balance between the allowable density that the community is comfortable with vs. the additional community benefit you can attain.”